Improvement in clothes and towel racks



.|. M". KEEP'.

Clothes and Towel Racks. `N0.l49,868,` PatentedAprilrzmam.. n y

IHIIIII) B' WFITNESBES:

UNITED STATES PATENT (.)EEICEo JAMEs M. KEEP, 0E NEw YORK, N. Y.,AssIeNoE To .IOANNA N. KEEP, or A SAME PLAGE.

|MPROVEMEN 'I IN CLOTHES'AND TOWEL RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,868, dated April21, 1874; application iiled August 30, 1873.

-exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of the bracket `and of therear or pivotal ends of therackbars.

Fig. 2 is a central section of the same upon a line extending from frontto rear. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the shank or pivotal end of arack-bar. Fig. 4 is a like view of the binding-screw, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the seat-plate of the bracket.

Letters of like name and kind refer to lik parts in each of the figures.

The object of my -invention is to increase the efficiency and durabilityof a towel or clothes rack and render the same more easy of adjustmentto place, to which end it consists, principally, in the construction andcombination of the bracket and its seat-plate, substantially as and forthe purpose hereinafter specified. It-consists, further, in the meansemployed for combining the rack-bars or arms with the brackets,substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists,further, in constructing the bracket and baseplate, or either of them,of or from Wroughtmetal plate, substantially as and for the purposehereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the bracket of my device,constructed of or from sheet or cast metal, in the form shown, itshorizontal portions being parallel and separated by a space of about onehalf inch. Within each of the outer arms of the bracket A are providedtwo or more openings or in- 4 dentations, a, which correspond invertical po sitions with similar openings or indentations in theopposite arm, and each furnishes abearing for one of two studs7 b, thatare formed upon opposite sides and at the rear end of the shank B of therack-bar orarm B', said studs having a common axial center and formingpivotal bearings, upon and around which said bar moves freely in ahorizontal plane. The studs b are inserted within their bea-rings, andthe shanks placed in position by springing the arms of the bracketapart, after which said arms are closed together, so as to l end ofsa'id bracket. As thus constructed, it

will be seen that the bracket is securely held `in position upon thebase-plate by the projections cl, While the arrangement of saidprojections enables said bracket to be changed from one position thereonto another, having a right angle thereto. The advantage of thisconstruction is, that it enables the base-plate (which is usually madein the form shown) to be arranged upon the bracket as to bring thescrew-holes d' upon a line with the plane of movement of the rack-bars,or, as seen in Fig. 1, upon a line having a right angle' to the same, inorder to accommodate said plate to the position it is to occupy upon awall,or an article of furniture.

As before stated, the bracket and base-plate are constructed from sheetsof wrought metal,

in consequence of which their peculiar form can be given, and thescrew-openings, bearings, and locking-projections made by means of dies,thereby materially lessenmg the expense, and at the same time producinga better article than would be practicable by the use of cast metal. Theshank of the center The attachment of the rack-bars renders theirinsertionwthin, or removal from, posi- 'tion an easy operation, andgreatly facilitates 1. The seat-plate D provided with the locking-studsd, and combined with the bracket A, in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as specified.

2. The shanks B provided With the pivotal' studs b, and combined withthe bracket A provided with the bearings a, in the manner and for-thepurpose substantially as shown.

3. In a towel-rack, substantially as described, the combination of thebracket A and baseplate or seat D, in the manner set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this25th day of August, 1875.

JAMES M. KEEP.

Witnesses K GEORGE E. JEWETT, GEORGE GORDNER.

